Bluebirds manager Lennie Lawrence admits his team face a 'defining time' at Ninian Park over the next five days with First Division leaders West Bromwich Albion the visitors tonight and Ipswich Town on Saturday.

And he won't stand for anybody saying: "Haven't we done well."

Cardiff City have pushed themselves into contention for a play-off place at least after a seven-match unbeaten run, but Lawrence said: "We haven't finished yet.

"I don't want to hear anybody talking about how well we've done up to now.

"There is no stopping to draw breath - we have to push on and maintain our run of success.

"The players are excited about what is ahead.

"We have only lost four league matches out of 18 and if we maintain that form we will finish in the top six.

"Our two home games in five days are a defining time for us.

"We haven't beaten a team in the top six yet.

"We have done the job against those in the lower half of the table and now we have the chance to show it against teams who look certain to finish near the top.

"I am hopeful. I feel confident."

Lawrence, though, is being uncharacteristically coy about what his starting line-up will be against West Brom, but admits he is considering calling up striker Peter Thorne.

"He's had 60 minutes reserve team football after five weeks out," said Lawrence.

"Sometimes you throw them straight back in, sometimes you wait.

"In fairness to Gavin Gordon, though, he has done pretty well during his run in the team."

The likelihood is that Lawrence will turn to Thorne as he looks for extra quality against Albion.

The Thorne/Robert Earnshaw partnership is potentially more potent because they are strikers who complement each other, while Gordon and Earnshaw both prefer playing off the shoulder of a target man.

John Robinson limped off after just over an hour against Wimbledon and Lawrence said: "His calf tightened up, but he has made good progress.

"I would anticipate that he will start tonight."

On-loan Julian Gray will be given his third successive start, but, for the moment, Lawrence is looking no further ahead than the next month or so.

Gray has been with City from Crystal Palace for six weeks - and has a maximum of another six weeks to go.

Then the Bluebirds will have to decide if they want to sign the Londoner or not.

"Julian has looked lively over the last couple of games," added Lawrence.

"He gives us balance on the left."

Skipper Graham Kavanagh will be missing again tonight because of the ankle injury sustained while playing for the Republic of Ireland, with Tony Vidmar taking the captaincy once more.

Kavanagh, though, is making good progress and City will make a more detailed assessment later today on how long he'll be out.

"Kav is improving leaps and bounds," said the City team boss.

"He has no chance of playing tonight, but we will have a clearer idea of how long he will be out following an assessment later today.

"I am cautiously optimistic that it's not going to be as long as it looked after the first examination."